Combined fire-alarm box and hydrant



E. E. FERGUSUN.

COMBINED FIBE ALARM BOX AND HYDRANT.v

APPLICATION`F|LED NOV. 18, 1919.

1,391,622. Patentedsept. 20,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inl/12237.'

ELT Z'rqzzJam @zml/uma y Z'ornlys E. E. FERGUSON.

COMBINED FIRE ALARM BOX AND HYDRANT. APPLICATION FILED Nov. is, 1919.

Patented Sept'. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. E. FERGUSON. COMBINED FIRE ALARM BOX ANO HYDRANT. APPLICATION FILEDNOV. I8, 1919. 1,391,622. Patentedsept. 20,1921.

y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATESY .PATEIWY oFFlCE.-

EDWARD E. FERGUSON, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, vASSIGNO'R 0F ONE-HALF TOC. VAN FLEMING, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

COMBINED FIRE-ALARM BOX AND HYDRANT.

and useful Improvements in Combined Fire- Alarm Boxes and Hydrants; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,`

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to whichV it appertains to make and use' the same.

The present invention relates to improvements-in combined fire alarm boxand hydrant, andconsists in certain improvements over the device shownvin my prior Patent No. 1,215,263, granted February 6, 1917.

It is an object of the present improvement that the .fire alarm box andvalve structure of the hydrant are inclosed within a casing which isclosed against tampering and which avoids the accidental or maliciousopening of the hydrant valve without turningin the alarm.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing an improvedcombined fire alarm box and hydrant in which the structure will becompact andinexpensive and being capable'of installation in connectionwith existing mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, andinwhich simi- 'lar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view ofa combined fire alarm box and hydrantconstructed according to my present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the same with the cover in theopen position, showing the interior of the easing;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the casing, showing theparts in the normal positions; l

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in position after the alarmhas been turned in and the hydrant valve opened;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts shown in section,of the cable release; and

Fig. 6 is a similarview showing certain parts in section. Y

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 2o, 1921.

Application led November 18, 1919. Serial No. 338,902.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a waterservice pipe which is connected with the main, from which it receivesits supply.` This service pipe passes Vthrough a casing 2 and issuesfrom the opposite side thereof, where it is in connection with one endof a hose 3 carried upon a rack 4 in the usual manner and having anozzle 5.

As ,clearly shown in F ig.y 3, the nozzle 5 4is made with a projection 6adapted to enter through an opening 7- in the front wall of the casing,and this projection 6, which is notched on its under side, as clearlyshown servesthe two-fold function of supporting the nozzle 5 and. alsoof holding the alarm mechanismV whichv is contained in the fire alarmboxj8, also carried within the casing 2, in an initial inoperativeposition. This is. accomplished by the projection `6 being received oninsulated end 9 on the lower portion ofthe kspring lever 10 which swingsaboutjthe center'll, and so disposed as to be grasped when the parts arein the position shown in Fig. :4 and drawn down for the purpose'ofelevating the lever 10 to its initial position prior toreturningthe.projection` 6 on the nozzle into its place Ywithin'the opening 7 in thecasing.

The `spring lever! 10 carries a stop 15.

which is normally intended to be engaged by an arm 16l carried by alever 17 which is fulcrumed within the casing 2, and normally has itsfree end engaged withy a valve leven 18. When the spring lever 10 falls,however, the stop 15 is withdrawn from the arm 16, which allows thelever 17 to fall in which it is assisted by a spring 55 out ofengagement with the valve lever 18 and allow such latter lever to berocked about its pivotal center 19 as 'by mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

The valve lever 18` isl of the curved construction, best shown in Figs.3 and 4, in order to enable it to embrace the service pipe within thecasing 2. This lever 18 is intended to operate any suitable type ofvalve 20 within the casing 21, and when the lever is Yin the lowerposition shown in Fig. 3

-the valve is closed, preventing the escape of water through the hoseand nozzle 5; while the valve 2O is opened by the swinging of the leverup into the position shown in-rv handle' 22 is connected to the valvelever y 18 in order to draw thev lever vback to the" initial positionafter each actuation. The valve lever "carries" a se ,'n1`entV 23 havingan `elonl gat-edfslot- 241m which is engaged one endv of a' rod" 25,which is suitably bent or offset' so as'to pass u'p'an'dconnect to avertically reciprocatin latch'26 operating'in a easing 27 and norma lyurged upward by a coil spring 28. The'latch engagesa shoulder 29 on theVcover 30v of' the 'casing' 2,' which-cover is hinged lat'its lowerendfa'djacentthe base of the'casi'ng, as'indicatedfat 3-1.

Springs 32 are carried -byl the s'ideedgesof the casing2 andare arrangedto be com'- pressed by the cover 30` when closed, with theresult-thatwhatwe-latch 261s with` Ydrawn from the shoulder' 29thespri'ngs 32 come into play andv rock the cover 30 back, so that itwill fall by gravity to thefopen position. f Y

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the valve lever 1 8k isprovided with a finger 33 pivoted asv indicatedv at '34 andA carryingfapin 35l which is connected to a tooth 36. A'spring 37 normally acts toproject the tooth'and t'o-keep thesame in engagement with'the notchedpart 38 of a tip 39 ona flexible cable 40 which fits throug the' openingmade for the purpose in thev upper end of the valvelever 18.I

The finger 33 is arranged to Strike a part of the casing 2, orotheradjacent part, when suchlever is in the raised position shown in Fig. 4,and when the nger strikes the casing' or lother part, it is rockedYabout the pi'votv34` and causes the'plunger 36 to be retractedfout ofthe pathgof the notched part 38, thus releasing" the tip 39andvallowing. the cable 40 to become free of, saidvalve lever 1 8. Thisconstruction is more particularly described and claimed in my priorpatent'aforesaid. Y e

The cable 40 passes out through an open-,

ingmade in the casing and'between a pair of swivel pulleys or a swivelring 41, and asY shown infFig. 1 has its opposite end provided with aring or clamp 42 which embraces the hose 3iat a suitable point; .the

idea being that when the hose is all oit/,the yrack or'reel, andstraightened out ready fory action, a slightl pull on the hose'will'pull upon the cable v- 40,\thus causing the valve lever 18 to be swungup and t valve 20 v urged"l by ay coil sp'rin .'Fig. 3.-

opened, the alarm beingturned in at the same time by the removal of thenozzle 5 to close. The drain valve is the usualaform ofcheck valveopened by pressureV and seating when pressurev isfy relieved, and per seforms no part of the present invention.

An arm 50 is i'ulcrumedy ona` pivot'51 carrie'd by the valve lever 18and'Yis-f'normally engaged by a projection 54 of thegpin 39,

s o that when the pin is inV place'theprojec-'- tion 54 will engage'the'exten'sion 53'A and hold the arm '50 in the position' shown Vinabout the pivot 51 so that"such"arm-'50"will assume"l substantially theposition shown inl Fig. 4, 'whereit willl prevent the closing of thecoverj30 prior to re-inse'rting the pin 39 in the valvelever 18. Bythis: arrangement it isjas'suredthatthecoverSOfwill not become latchedwithout first connectingv the cable `40V to the valve lever 18, asthe'same Awould' not be set for action were this connection' not made.Aleafspring 55"bears onthe arm 17,

causing it to drop promptly, releasing. the lever 18, when the stop 15is withdrawn from* the arm 16.

Clips 56 are lshown las aii-Xed'vtotlie front" wall ci the casingforassisting insupporting the nozzle and also forassistingintlie'removal of the nozzle. A vswinging `o fithe` noz` zle to theright or left vwill cause'it to become disengaged fromthe box.

In operation the parts are' ynormally' in the position shown inFig. 3",andfwh'en tlie noz-j@ zle 5 is removed, the lever" 10will `dr'opand turnin the/alarm,A At the Sametime the h'ose 3will be removed fromhthe rack4, andas the same is straightened out ready orac-l tion a slight pull'will drawthe cabl`e40, thus causing the swinging fof'V the valve le`.Y

ver 18 accompanied by the Vopening of the valve 2O and thewithd'rawallof'the latch 26,-

resulting in the opening ofV the cover- 30. The cable 40 will also bereleased so notto cause any possible kinking'ofv the hose which wouldinterferewith the iow of thewater`.

l/Vhenthe parts are'to'be resto'redtoinitial position ythe handle 22'is`grasped and'y the valve lever 18 returnedfto the lowered' pos'i`' tion,the tip 39 being threaded through the' swivelv pulleys or swivel' ring'41" and again engaged with the valve lever 18 afte`rthe hose 0f 52 toswing'about the l pivot 5 1 in a countercockwisedirection. `An

extension 53 ofthe arm-50 isarrafnged to beY When, however, 'the pin'39is rey leased, the removalof the projection' 54 will" allow the spring52 to swing the armk 50"' has been put back in place on the rackl andthe spring lever l0 is restored to the upper position after which thenozzle is again put in place. rThe cover 30 Vmay then be again raisedand will be automatically locked by the latch 26. The apparatus can inthis condition not be tampered with unless the nozzle 5 is removed whichturns in the alarm.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spiritof my invention, and therefore I L,do not wish to be limited to suchfeatures except as may be required by the claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, a service pipe, a valve therein, actuating means forthe valve, a hose connected to the service pipe, a connection betweenthe hose and actuating means for acting to open the valve, a fire alarmapparatus adjacent said actuating means, a nozzle for the hose normallyacting to hold the alarm apparatus in an initial potential position, andmeans held in place by the alarm apparatus for preventing the movementof the actuating means, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a service pipe, valvev means therein, actuating meansfor the valve means, a hose connected to said pipe, a connection betweenthe hose and actuating means for acting to open the valve means, a irealarm apparatus near said actuating means, a nozzle for the hosenormally acting to hold the alarm apparatus in an initial potentialposition, and means tted to swing between said apparatus and actuatingmeans for normally rendering the latter inoperative, substantially asdescribed.

8. In combination, a service pipe, valve means therein, actuating meansfor the valve means, a hose connected to said pipe, a connection betweenthe hose and actuating means for acting to open the valve means, a firealarm apparatus near said actuating means, a nozzle for the hosenormally acting to hold said alarm` apparatus in an initial potentialposition, and a lever ulcrumed between said actuating means andalarm'apparatus and normally engaging both but released from engagementwith the actuating means when the alarm apparatus is actuated,substantially as described.

4:. In combination, a service pipe, valve means therein, actuating meansfor the valve means, a hose connected to said pipe, a connection betweenthe hose and actuating means for acting to open the valve means, va lirealarm apparatus near the actuating means, a nozzle for the hose normallyacting to hold said alarm apparatus in an initial potential position, alever pivoted between thevactuating means and alarm apparatus ada ted tonormally engage the former and having an arm engageable with the latter,

and spring means for' disengaging the lever from the actuating meanswhen the arm is released, substantially as described.

5; In combination, a service pipe, a valve therein, actuating means forthevalve, a fire alarmapparatus situated close to the valve, a hoseconnecting to the service pipe, a nozzle for the hose adapted to holdthe alarm mechanism in an initial potential position, a casing inclosingsaid valve and alarm mechanism, a cover for the casing, spring meansnormally tending to open the cover, latch means within the casingnormally holding the cover closed, and means to automatically open thecover when said actuating means for the valve is'moved to open thevalve, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a service pipe, a valve therein, a hose connected tothe service pipe, an alarm mechanism situated beside the valve, a nozzlefor the hose acting normally to maintain said alarm mechanism in aninitial potential position, a casing inclosing said service pipe, valveand alarm mechanism, a normally openable cover for the cassol ing, latchmeans within the casing and inp between the hose and the valve actuatingmeans for shifting the latter to open the valve, and latch releasingmeans associated with said actuating means, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a casing, a cover hinged thereto, and extending aboutone side and a portion of the upper part of the casing, spring meanscompressible when the cover is closed and acting to urge the cover to anopen position, latch means within the casing and inaccessible from theexterior for normally holding the cover closed in opposition to theinfluence of said spring means, a service pipe passing through saidcasing, a valve included in the pipe and situated within the casing, alever for opening and closing said valve, a connection between saidlever and said latch means, analarm mechanism in the casing, a hoseconnected to the service pipe and supported at an elevation, a nozzlefor the hose having a part adapted to project within the casing and toboth support the nozzle and hold the alarm mechanism in aninitialpotential position, and a connection between said hose and saidlever, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a casing a cover hinged thereto, spring meansnormally acting on said cover and tending to open the same, a

vlatch within the casing normally holding said cover closed, a servicepipe passing through the casing, a valve included in the y service pipewithin said casing, a lever in f part playing intheislot` in saidsegment, anl

alarm mechanism in the casing, ahosev connected to the service pipe andnormally sup ported at an elevation a nozzlev for the hose 5 vhavingfavprojection adapted to extend Within the casing and both support thenozzle and hold? the alarmmechanism iny a: potential position, a`lexible, and yreleasable connecf' tionl between the hose and' said lever`and Y means; between Said alarm mechanismn and leverfor holding: the,tlatter against opera-

